Page 49 of Steel

Unlike the majority of the clubhouse girls, who look at me like I’m an outsider—an enemy trying to steal their men—Luna treats me like a friend.

“Starting a fight club, wildfire?” Jameson’s voice comes from behind me, and it makes me jump.

I spin to find him leaning against the bar watching me.

“Find me later, Tempe.” Luna winks, walking away at Jameson’s interruption.

“So?” His gaze moves to my scar, and I wonder how much he heard. “Self-defense classes?”

“Any girl hanging out with bikers should know how to throw a punch. Just in case.”

Jameson hums, amusement playing in his gaze, and I appreciate that my fiery side doesn’t scare him.

“Maybe I’ll have to stop by and check it out then.” He smirks.

Stepping closer, I scan him over, wetting my lips as we lock gazes again. “I could use a target to show ’em how to take someone down. You volunteering?”

“You want to fight me, Tempe?” Jameson leans closer, brushing my hair off my cheek and leaving a path of pure fire in its wake. “Think you could take me?”

“Maybe.” I shrug, playfully. “Guess we’ll have to find out.”

14

Steel

This little firecracker thinksshe’s tough, and something about it is really fucking hot. But at the same time, I’m not thrilled to find outwhyshe’s such a fighter.

When I first walked up behind Tempe and heard her telling Luna about how she got the scar that cuts through her eyebrow, it took everything in me not to immediately hunt down her mom’s ex-boyfriend to teach him a lesson. I probably would have if Tempe wasn’t standing in front of me looking so damn distracting.

She must have changed her clothes at her house because she’s wearing a flowery sundress that blows around her thighs with the slight breeze. Her chin is tipped up in a challenge, and the sunset draws out the blonde streaks in her honey-brown hair.

Tempe’s cheeks are the prettiest shade of pink as her hazel eyes blink up at me. Her hair is down and wavy and wild like her spirit when she’s being feisty. I’d love to feelher silky strands, her soft skin. The contradiction of her prickly attitude.

My gaze drops to her mouth when she wets her lips, and her eyelashes flutter.

I’m standing close—too close.

I can’t help it.

I walked over here to get a beer… at least, that’s what I told myself. But really, I’m here because ofher.

I’ve been on edge since Havoc called me from Tempe’s house and told me someone flipped it. I don’t know if they were looking for something specific or trying to prove a point. But if that was the case, they made it.

She and Austin aren’t going back there unguarded. The neighborhood she was living in is bad enough, but the lack of a security door or any type of alarm system grinds my nerves, thinking she was living in that place as long as she was like that.

I’ll help her find a better place.

A nicer neighborhood.

Somewhere to go when she inevitably leaves.

My gut sinks, and I take a step back. This girl is a sinkhole, and I’m riding straight for her.

“So that’s how you learned to fight?” I ask, curious now. “Self-defense classes?”

“How much did you hear exactly?” She narrows her eyes.

“Enough to know Helix wasn’t the only piece of shit your mom dated.”

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